Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis left for Delhi on Saturday after completing his official engagements in Solapur, triggering speculation that he could be inducted into the Union Cabinet following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Fadnavis and his wife Amruta Fadnavis were in Solapur to offer prayers at the Vitthal-Rukmini temple in Pandharpur on the occasion of Ashadi Ekadashi. He left for Delhi after completing the official programme.
Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that Fadnavis could be appointed as the new Union Education Minister.
“Devendra Fadnavis is highly educated —a lawyer by profession—and is known for articulating well-researched views on various subjects. There has been constant speculation about moving him to Delhi. Therefore, whether by coincidence or from his perspective—unfortunately, there is a huge possibility that Mr Fadnavis is likely to be shifted to Delhi, and by entrusting major responsibility at the Centre, this possibility cannot be ruled out," Raut claimed.
Raut said there had been speculation for a long time that Fadnavis could be given a major role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet.
He further claimed that Dharmendra Pradhan resigned because of fears that the student protests could intensify.
“Devendra Fadnavis's political bosses are based in Delhi; hence, he is compelled to visit Delhi to heed their orders. The 'Nizams' are controlling Delhi; therefore, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, DCM Sunetra Pawar, and CM Devendra Fadnavis as 'Razakars' are compelled to make trips to the capital to comply with their directives,” Raut criticised the BJP.
Raut also said the student protests had revived the country's democracy.
He said the joint rally of students and parents, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, would be held in Mumbai on Sunday as scheduled despite the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. He said participants would assemble at Shivaji Park in Dadar.
